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U.S. women's soccer coach relieved of duties

The U.S. Soccer federation announced Sunday night that women's national team coach Tom Sermanni has been relieved of his duties as head coach, effective immediately.

U.S. Soccer Director of Development Jill Ellis will serve as interim head coach, starting with the USA's next match against China on April 10 in San Diego.

The United States defeated China 2-0 on Sunday in Commerce City, Colo., but had a disappointing performance at the Algarve Cup in Portugal last month. The Americans went 1-2-1, losing to Sweden and Denmark, to finish seventh. The U.S. has won the Algarve Cup nine times and finished runner-up four times.

"We want to thank Tom for his service over the past year and half, but we felt that we needed to go in a different direction at this time," U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said in a news release. "We will begin looking for a new coach immediately to guide our Women's National Team toward qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup."

"I'm disappointed that things didn't work out, but I'd like to thank U.S. Soccer for the opportunity to have coached this team and also the staff and players for all their hard work," Sermanni said in the same news release.

Ellis previously served as interim head coach for seven matches at the end of 2012, going 5-0-2.